What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thurman has the most affordable homes ($197k median).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Thurman	Plainfield
People
Population	977Lowest	1,314Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S.	48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S.
	Thurman and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Thurman and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S.	$69,250±$31kHighest 14% below U.S.
	Plainfield and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$197,400±$43kLowest 41% below U.S.	$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S.	$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S.	$4,806Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.1%±77.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thurman and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.